Africa-Press – Botswana. Residents of Moshupa have proposed to the Moshupa-Manyana Constituency Demarcation Committee to consider additional three council wards in Moshupa instead of two as suggested by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
The residents are of the view that since the population in the Moshupa-Manyana Constituency had increased, this called for the addition of at least three council wards, especially in Moshupa where the number of residents was higher.
Their contributions followed a brief from the chairperson of the Moshupa-Manyana Constituency Demarcation Committee, Ms Tebogo Hlabano during a consultation meeting on the commencement of the demarcation of polling districts exercise recently.
They said the two additional two council wards which had been allocated were inadequate as reflected in the population statistics, adding that the total number of wards should at least be 14, instead of 13 as suggested by the IEC.
Sharing her view, specially elected Councillor Ms Ponatshego Tshiping suggested that to cater for the newly allocated two polling districts, Moshupa North council ward should be divided into two to form Moshupa North East and Moshupa North West looking at the population in that ward.
She also proposed that the old Moshupa Central which was in the past merged to become part of Moshupa East should form an independent council ward.
She argued that since the Moshupa polling district had a population of 28 000 the wards needed to be divided by 4 000 people as stipulated in the electoral act, hence Moshupa would have seven wards instead of four as was currently the case.
She noted that it was critical to evenly distribute council wards as it often caused conflicts amongst councillors especially during the distribution of constituency funds.
Moshupa West Councillor Motlhalosi Kelobang and Pitseng Councillor Banewang Marumoatsile further proposed that the third anticipated council ward encompass Seherelela, Dintsana and Sesung to make them one.
Residents suggested that consideration be made to identify the density of population within the village as that could easily help to establish areas which need to be divided.
However, Mr Moatlhodi Dibotelo held a different view, saying there was no need to increase the number of polling districts since the country had a very small population.
In her remarks, Ms Hlabano shared that Moshupa had been allocated additional two wards by the Independent Electoral Commission.
“Moshupa-Manyana Constituency has a population of 52 128. Moshupa alone has a population of 23 858. Moshupa polling district extends to Polokwe and Goo-Kodisa villages thus increasing the population to 28 001,” she said.
She further advised that according to the electorate act, for a ward to qualify to be established as a council ward, it should have a population of more than 4 000 people.
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